1) Educational Scholarships:
The Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation (ILLCF) was established in 2002 to support the Illinois Latino population and communities statewide. They offer The Michael W. Gonzalez scholarship, providing $5,000 to 20 eligible students annually for pursuing accredited educational programs. The scholarship application opens on May 3rd, 2023, and the deadline is Monday, July 3rd, 2023. Applicants must submit an application, a personal statement, and a letter of recommendation from a professor, teacher, or mentor. The scholarship is available to all Illinois students of Latino ancestry, regardless of immigration status.
2) Raíces:
Five policy pillars representing legislative priorities for all Latinos across Illinois. Each year, the Foundation hosts a conference that connects coalition-based organizations with the community to collaborate on the Raíces Report.
3) Rapid Response Grant
TThe Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation offers Rapid Response Grants, which provide up to four awards of up to $5,000 each per calendar year until budgeted funds are exhausted. The grants have a six-month term, and applications are accepted on a rolling basis. The funding is intended for timely and urgent needs, such as unexpected events, disaster relief, or COVID-19 response, and must align with the Foundation's guidelines and priorities. Eligible organizations must be registered as 501(c)(3) public charities and be based in Illinois or have Illinois-based activities. Existing grantees may apply, but the request must fall outside their existing scope of work.
4) Alumni Association
The Alumni Association of the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation consists of past and present recipients of the ILLCF Scholarship Program. The committee's focus is to create programs that foster connections among Latino leaders across generations, providing networking opportunities through various Foundation-led events.
